AgLife – March 27, 2019 edition

March 27, 2019

Watchful eyes Grain judge Graeme Warner and steward Max Schmidt at Natimuk Show. Organisers watched gate entries double from previous years, as people embraced good weather and family fun as another show season drew to a close. Story, page 35.

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Insight into soil biology F

armers have gained insight into ways of increasing the resilience of cropping land at Victorian No-Till Farmers Association workshops in Horsham.

Agricultural ecologist Nicole Masters, from regenerative agricultural specialist group Integrity Soils led the workshops at Sawyer Park and on a district farm.

Ms Masters, who leads workshops across Australia, New Zealand and the United State of America, spoke about a need to build resilience into vulnerable farming systems to become more profitable.

“For some it’s about getting off the treadmill. We talk about the role of microbiology in farming, building carbon and restoring natural cycles,” she said.

“We talk a bit about water and flood and drought cycles and what control do farmers have in coping with that.

“These workshops are very much about asking how we put the power back into farmers’ hands.”

Ms Masters said she hoped farmers who attended the workshops gained inspiration and a sense of hope and possibility about their land.

“We do a lot of work, most in North America, Australia and New Zealand, with biological systems and exploring how we can restore

HOW IT WORKS: From left, Victorian No-Till Farmers Association members Paul Oxbrow of Rupanyup and Steve Stone, Woodstock, are pictured with agricultural ecologist Nicole Masters at a workshop in Horsham.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER them. We’re seeing incredible successes. It’s about asking what’s possible in these eco-systems and where are we failing to capitalise on what we have.”

Rupanyup farmer and Victorian No-Till Farmers Association board member Paul Oxbrow said the

workshops had been about gaining greater understanding of the growing environment.

“They provide a lot of direction on regenerating our soils to grow a more resilient plant and healthier food,” he said.

Steve Stone, who farms at Wood-

stock and among visiting attendees at the Horsham workshops, said it was great to hear more about regenerative farming systems.

“So we can have self-sustaining and profitable systems that are healthy and help lower farming input costs,” he said.

Kingston wary of basin relocation plans Independent candidate for Mallee Ray Kingston believes the Federal Government has ignored recommendations of its own report in announcing a relocation of Murray Darling Basin Authority jobs to Mildura, Griffith and Murray Bridge.

Mr Kingston was referring to the Nationals’ Regions at the Ready report.

He said the Nationals needed to realise that ‘making a success of decentralisation takes more than just a token announcement’.

“It’s a process that requires careful planning and long-term com-

mitment,” he said. “I am a strong supporter of decentralisation, so while I welcome this move in principle, I have deep reservations about what looks like another ad hoc process knocked up on the back of an envelope in an attempt to sure up country seats in the lead up to an election.

“These matters require a longterm strategic approach.

“The government has been talking a good game in this space for ages, but all we’ve seen so far is the near destruction of the pesticides regulator through the relocation to New England when

Barnaby Joyce’s seat was under threat.

“This decision by the then Ag Minister came at a massive and long-lasting cost to agriculture.”

Mr Kingston said the government risked further dysfunction of the Murray Darling Basin Authority and discrediting the concept of future decentralisation through poor planning.

“Decentralisation done right needs a long-term bipartisan approach, as an Independent for Mallee, I can act as an honest broker to push both sides of parliament towards positive outcomes,” he said.

Ray Kingston

Call to reduce stubble burns 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

A Victorian government agency is calling on landowners to protect paddock trees and remnant patches of native vegetation when burning stubble.

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s Michelle Butler said burning stubble should only be used as a last resort.

Ms Butler, the department’s Natural Environment Programs’ Grampians regional manager, said stubble burning was on a downward trend as farmers recognised the value of stubble retention.

“Conservation farming methods for managing weeds, pests and disease are far better for nutrient retention, soil health and moisture,” she said.

“Under limited circumstances, where burning stubble is required, it should be wellplanned and approved through a council permit. Strict adherence to grass and stubble-burning-permit conditions will ensure damage to native vegetation is avoided.

“Failure to comply with the conditions of the permit, including protection of paddock trees, might result in action being taken by the council or government agencies.”

Ms Butler said DELWP recommended slashing around the base of trees to establish an adequate firebreak, removing any tree debris from the base of the tree or wetting the area around the tree before burning.

She said anyone requiring information about permits should contact their council.

Milk price lift a win Australian Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has welcomed a decision by supermarket giants Coles and Aldi to lift the price on their home-brand milk.

Mr Littleproud said he had made breaking a $1-litre milk model a commitment to help Australian dairy farmers.

“I said I’d never apologise to supermarkets over $1 milk and I never did. Both Coles and Aldi have held discussions with me and I welcome this important first step,” he said.

“Coles and Aldi’s announcement that they’ll no longer sell milk for $1 means we’re breaking the back of the $1 milk model.

“It’s time farmers received fair reward for their effort. These people produce our food.

“Last week I announced a dairy code of conduct, which will outlaw exclusive contracts, retrospective price cuts and deduction of loyalty payments so farmers can shift to another processor more easily, creating more competition for their milk.

“I won’t stop fighting for a fairer price for farmers right across the dairy range.”

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Drought envoy didn’t get invite Country Today with Libby Price

Trade agreement win for farmers 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

Agriculture leaders are celebrating a significant trading win for farmers.

Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said the signing of a long-awaited Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement would deliver real results for farmers across a wide range of commodities, including livestock, grains, dairy and horticulture.

“Indonesia is already one of our greatest trading partners,” he said.

“In 2017, food and fibre exports to Indonesia were worth $3.5 billion for Australia’s economy.

“This trade agreement will serve to strengthen our trade relationship and maintain or even grow

Australia’s market share in Indonesia. I hope the Australian Parliament moves quickly to ratify this agreement.

“Thank you to Minister for Trade Simon Birmingham, former Minister for Trade Steven Ciobo and the many departmental staff who worked on this agreement for over eight years.”

The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed in Jakarta by Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham.

National Farmers’ Federation chief executive Tony Mahar accompanied the minister for the signing of the historic agreement.

L

eading pollster Gary Morgan told me that governments don’t win elections, they only lose them.

It took me a while to comprehend what he’d said, but since that day more than three decades ago, he’s been proven correct time and time again.

There’s a whiff of that happening federally and the ‘alternative’ candidates are coming out of the woodwork making claims they will fix farmers problems if they’re elected when there’s virtually no possibility of them ever having the power to do so.

At a drought meeting in the Goulburn Valley with Federal Nationals MP Damian Drum, Federal Agriculture and Water Minister David Littleproud and Special Drought Envoy Barnaby Joyce, the gathering was littered with political hopefuls and angry irrigators who had decided to dump their National Party allegiances and support alternatives.

It made for an uncomfortable mix and frankly very little was achieved. The MPs were shouted down, sworn at and accused of doing nothing.

A growing number of irrigators are jumping on the ‘pause the plan’ bandwagon for the Murray Darling Basin plan.

It was a Howard government plan, endorsed by Labor, with the Greens using their clout to lobby for the environment.

The only federal candidates agreeing with the ‘pause’ are the ones who have zilch chance of winning.

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TALKING: Barnaby Joyce at a drought meeting in the Goulburn Valley.

Minister Littleproud ruled it out, though conceded it might not be working as well as it should be. He knows it would be political suicide for him to dump the plan.

Member for Murray Drum wants the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to release water for dairy farmers.

Sounds good in theory but was ruled out months ago as not within the jurisdiction of the authority to do so.

The Victorian Water Holder has found it has surplus water but under the legislation, that is sold in the open water market.

No dairy farmer could afford it.

If you give it to one farmer, the obvious response would be all farmers would want water for nothing. It just doesn’t work like that.

Special Drought Envoy Joyce brought little joy.

He spoke of how he’d ‘talked tough’ with former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when he ousted Tony Abbott and told

him if he didn’t listen to the Nationals, the Coalition would be under threat.

How did that help anybody?

Mr Turnbull had a good grasp of water policy, having served as Minister for Water and Environment and little respect for Joyce. So there went what should have been an informed chance of reform.

But more importantly to the farmers at the meeting, Joyce talked of the drought in Queensland and NSW and how he’d had to sell his own cattle, but didn’t offer anything other than more talk.

Asked why he hadn’t visited drought stricken East Gippsland, he said he hadn’t been invited.

“You can’t just lob up on someone,” he said, and promptly ended the media conference.

There must be a reason why Mr Littleproud has been there twice in the past month, but the Special Drought Envoy not once, ever.

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Young farmers meet minister M

BY COLIN MacGILLIVRAY

inyip farmer Tom McGrath believes a meeting with new state agriculture minister Jaclyn Symes will yield positive results for young farmers in Victoria.

Mr McGrath is a member of the Young Farmers Advisory Council, a ministerial advisory body advocating for young Victorians in the agriculture sector.

The council met with Ms Symes for the first time since she took over the portfolio from Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford.

Mr McGrath said the meeting had established a good basis for further discussions with Ms Symes.

“I think the biggest thing to take from it is that Jaclyn seems to be really excited about having a go,” he said.

“She sounds like she really wants to make an impact and have a go at making the industry attractive to up and coming young people.

“She doesn’t want to rest on her laurels, but really shake things up and look at a few things in a different way, which is good.”

Mr McGrath called for young farmers in the Wimmera to contact him prior to the meeting so he could accurately represent their concerns to Ms Symes.

He said he was unable to address many specific issues during the council’s initial meeting,

but he expected to be able to address issues in depth at future meetings.

“I’ll get that opportunity to put across the concerns of the farmers in the Wimmera,” he said.

“I raised the general issue of infrastructure within our area. Obviously internet and phone connectivity is still a major issue within our area, and that’s something that really shouldn’t still need addressing in 2019.”

Mr McGrath said topics such as mental health and water access and allocation were also discussed.

He said he was unsure when the council’s next meeting with Ms Symes would be, but encouraged young Wimmera people to continue to contact him with any concerns.

“We’re not certain of the next time we’ll meet with her,” he said.

“It’s more about when she needs advice on hot topics at the time.

“Just as a council we could meet two times a year, we could meet four times a year.

“With the minister herself, it will probably be two or three times a year.

“She has also given us the support to say that if she’s got an event in the area or we’re in her area, we’re welcome to attend and talk to her.”

People can contact Mr McGrath to share their concerns by emailing thomasjmcgrath@ outlook.com.

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LICKING GOOD: Longerenong College students, from left, Amy Pilgrim, Marnie Turner and Brit Jacob pose with a new Bromar sheep lickfeeder that Bromar Engineering donated to the college. The students met Mark and Bron Liebich from Bromar Engineering during Wimmera Machinery Field Days and later the Liebichs decided to donate the feeder to the college. College campus head John Goldsmith and livestock co-ordinator Tony Gilpin said they were thrilled with the company’s generosity. In other college news, the agriculturetraining institution will welcome back 2018 graduates at a gathering on Friday.

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Smart farming grants open 95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

Applications for the second round of the Federal Government’s Smart Farming Partnerships are open.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the grants would be available to farmers, Landcare groups, universities and others.

“We are funding substantial projects between $250,000 and $4-million that improve the sustainability of Australian agriculture,” he said.

EXPLORING EARLY BREAK: Birchip Cropping Group has started sowing for the 2019 season at its Kalkee site, with a trial receiving irrigation to simulate an autumn break.

How early can sowing start?

I

s March 20 too early to start sowing?

Researchers at Birchip Cropping Group, BCG, intend to find out after they sowed the first Wimmera trial crop at Kalkee last week.

The BCG site is one of about 25 involved in a range of trials across the Wimmera and Mallee this year.

This is the first of four ‘time of sowing’ trials as part of a GRDC ‘Development of crop management packages for early sown, slow developing wheats in the southern region’ project.

BCG research and extension officer Genevieve Clarke said the project comprised four sowing times, with about two weeks between each.

“The research is looking at how growers could benefit from an early break by sowing what are known as winter wheats, slower developing wheats to the more commonly grown spring wheats,” she said.

There are two trials being sown as part of the project.

The first is looking at pre-release and newly released winter wheat varieties including Longsword, DS Bennett and Illabo. This trial is being irrigated with 10 millimetres of water to achieve emergence.

The second trial is looking at different amounts

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

of irrigation applied at sowing – 10mm, 25mm and 50mm – to investigate how much of a ‘breaking’ rain is enough to establish winter wheats early and have them survive through to when later rain arrives.

“BCG staff will be visiting the site regularly to undertake assessments throughout the season,” Ms Clarke said.

This is the third year this work is being carried out in the Wimmera, with trials at Rupanyup in 2018 and Longerenong, 2017.

The research has attracted considerable attention with questions around soil-moisture requirements and variety performance across different seasons being answered.

As part of the wider project there are 10 trial sites across grain-growing regions of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

BCG is managing the same trial at a 2019 BCG main site eight kilometres west of Birchip.

Growers will have the opportunity to visit the early-sown wheat trial at the BCG Main Field Day on September 11.

More information about the field day and results of this trial will appear on BCG’s website www.bcg.org.au as the season progresses.

– Jemma Pearl, BCG project officer

“These grants fund sustainable agriculture by helping create new practices and then having farmers use those practices.

“We’re looking for applications from across all agricultural industries including cropping, livestock, mixed farming, rangelands, marine, horticulture and sugar.

“Grants can fund research, trials or delivery of projects which deal with, for example,

soil health, pest control, farm input efficiency, Indigenous involvement and climate adaptation.

“These grants are delivered in partnerships and offer a fantastic opportunity for organisations to partner with farmers to promote the best practices.”

People seeking more information on the National Landcare Program can visit website www.agriculture.gov.au.

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Minimising transition stress “Like” Us On Facebook

95 Nelson Street, Nhill CALL 03 5391 2106

The Weekly Advertiser welcomes new contributor Craig Altmann to the newspaper’s monthly Aglife feature. Mr Altmann, who grew up in Jeparit, attended Longerenong College and has gained extensive industry experience in business and general farming, is a seed and marketing sales agronomist with Australian Grain and Forage Seeds, AGF, and has volunteered to provide his thoughts on the industry and season throughout the year.

I

t was in the Coonawarra area, mid 2000s, at a producer group meeting where the farmer guest speaker – let’s call him ‘John’ – spoke about the management side of his business.

John shared his secret to successfully reducing stress and not making decisions on the run.

His story has remained with me and since been reinforced many times.

Where John farms is relatively reliable compared with the distribution area of The Weekly Advertiser.

Still, around this time he had endured the rare experience of all but missing out on a spring.

Since then, there’s been repeats of

this experience to varying degrees, bringing with it business and personal vulnerability and anxiety.

Similarly, autumn 2019 sees farmers, agronomists, consultants, advisors and so on considering production and financial aspects such as timing of the break, seasonal rain forecasts, when we’ll need feed, hay and silage requirements, disease and weed control, herbicide residuals, marketing issues – for example commodity price forecasts, varieties, sowing seed availability, fertiliser and pesticide prices and availability, giving input suppliers time and commitment, labour requirements, optimal flowering periods, cash flow and gross margins.

The reason I’m sharing this story is because it is a story of transition during the seasons and the flexibility and resilience required.

Whether you’re cropping or grazing, currently, decisions are being made, and changed just as quick in some cases.

So, John’s message of monitoring, measuring, flexibility and using strategic trigger points, is again relevant this year to minimise last-minute decisions and reduce stress.

Funny coincidence – I was just about to finish and email this column, while stepping out of an event, only to hear presenter Simon Vogt of Rural Direc-

Craig Altmann

tions begin talking about the management traits and characteristics of the top 20 percent of farm businesses.

There were six key points: • System focus; • The ability to take a big-picture overview when under pressure;

• Internalise and take responsibility for key business decisions; • Focusing energy in circle of control; • Being able to implement against key profit drivers; and • Be observant to emerging trends.

Counselling investment There will be more help for farmers facing hardship with the Federal Government investing a further $3.7-million in a Rural Financial Counselling Service.

The extra money will bring the government commitment to the service to $77-million.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the Rural Financial Counselling Service had given crucial support to farming families during recent floods and drought.

“Rural counsellors are our angels on the ground,” he said.

“One of many things they do is help fill out Farm Household Allowance applications for farmers – for free.”

Mr Littleproud said the Rural Financial Counselling Service would decide how best to use the extra $3.7-million.

“This free service helps farmers cut through red tape and access all the support available to them,” he said.

“Since August the RFCS hotline has received more than 1300 calls for assistance.”

Mr Littleproud said more information on Rural Financial Counselling Services was available online at agriculture.gov.au/rfcs.

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Farmers call for roo control V

ictoria’s peak farming body has called on the State Government to commercialise a 2014 kangaroo petfood trial to ensure ‘sensible and effective’ kangaroo population control.

Victorian Farmers Federation Livestock Group president Leonard Vallance said the kangaroo pet food trial was ‘clearly’ successful as an effective system for sustainably managing kangaroo populations and reducing waste.

He said Victorian Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio needed to implement a kangaroo-harvesting framework based on evidence her department gathered in the trial and a 2018 kangaroo aerial survey.

“These important decisions need to be made based on objective evidence, not an emotional knee-jerk reaction,” Mr Vallance said.

“Victoria is the only state in Australia without an approved management plan for commercial kangaroo and wallaby harvesting.

“Implementing a framework will increase transparency and provide certainty for government, shooters and farmers.”

Mr Vallance said he believed Victoria’s kangaroo population had ‘exploded’ well beyond a natural level in recent years and

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“We have a great opportunity to sensibly and sustainably manage the kangaroo population, reduce damage to our farms, reduce waste in the system and support a viable business”

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was having a serious impact on agricultural businesses and the welfare of the kangaroos themselves.

“I’ve been inundated with calls from members who have lost pasture and crops, and had fences ruined by large numbers of kangaroos,” he said.

“We’re also concerned the large number of kangaroos on our roads reduces road safety and threatens human lives.

“Furthermore, we’ve heard shocking stories of emaciated, skinny kangaroos in overpopulated areas. This is a genuine animal welfare concern that needs to be addressed.

“We have a great opportunity to sensibly and sustainably manage the kangaroo population, reduce damage to our farms, reduce waste in the system and support a viable business.”

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: From left, Morgan Lord, Morgan Lane, Tatiarna Nelson and Abbey Wehrung trained with Michael Sekulich as part of the Horse Show Spectacular at Natimuk Show on Saturday.

Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Natimuk show ‘off like clockwork’ Organisers will look to build on the success of Natimuk’s 127th Show with patrons on Saturday doubling previous attendances.

With an array of food and entertainment on hand, showgoers flocked to the annual event.

Show secretary Judith Bysouth said participating numbers were also up in most competition

sections. “Everything just went lovely. It went off like clockwork and was well received all round,” she said.

“We were light on volunteers and encourage more volunteer participation, because you can never have enough, but it went fantastic.

“The horse event was superb,

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A

n innovative approach to preparing for the coming cropping season has enabled pulse growers to hear from leading industry experts without leaving the farm.

As part of the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s Southern Region Pulse Extension Project, a series of short online webinars were run last week and are now available on GRDC’s website.

Industry experts provided an overview of relevant agronomic information, pulse research findings and current market information by pulse crop type.

GRDC manager of systems and agronomy – south, Andrew Etherton, said the Growing Pulses webinar series was a valuable addition to growers’ preparations for the 2019 cropping season.

“The GRDC recognises this is a busy time of the year for growers, with so many events on the calendar ahead of sowing,” he said.

“We therefore chose a webinar format for pulse crop forums, so growers and other industry personnel could conveniently tune in from their homes or offices.

“Each webinar focused on a particular crop type, so growers and others could choose which webinars best suited their interests and needs.”

The GRDC Southern Region Pulse Extension Project – Building capacity, skills and knowledge for the pulse industry in the southern region:

Andrew Etherton

Supporting expansion of high value pulses into new areas and ensuring sustained profitability of all key pulse crops – started in 2017 and is delivered by a consortium of organisations involved in the pulse industry across the GRDC’s southern region.

Its objective is to increase the knowledge of growers and advisers on sustainable pulse production, leading to improved farming systems and grower profitability in the southern region.

Webinar recordings on beans, vetch, field peas, lentils and chickpeas are available on GRDC website, grdc.com.au.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2019